Raja Ampat itinerary & LOB advice: Damai 2 or Blue Manta?

[YYCdivers]

Dan,
Thanks very much for taking the time to write such a detailed and thoughtful response. I really do appreciate you taking the time to do that!

Sincere thanks to the rest of you for your opinions as well.

We are definitely leaning towards the Triton Bay itinerary with D2. Although we totally understand the advantages of the larger, steel hull (we were previously on the BM in the Andaman Sea when it was called WM, and on ScubaSpa Yang in Maldives) we don’t mind the sound of creaking wood so the longer itinerary with more variety of sites seems to tip the balance...

Once again, thanks all of you for you insight!
Matt

 

[Dan]

Looking forward to reading your trip report later!

 

[SC_14_sharkdiver]

This is not my experience at all. We look for and love current. I have been on more Damai cruises than I can count.. the only time a group or tender avoids current is when the divers request or cannot handle it.

his

Hi
Can you tell me more about this?
If you are on Damai 2 in Banda/Forgotten Islands,
will the crew make an effort to find the schools of hammerheads,
therefore find the right corner, look for current,
or will they lead a very conservative dive, which will be safe but will miss the action (I know it is a great boat with great crew, don't get me wrong)?
I am a bit worried that comfort comes first on a boat of that type and other boats might be a bit more "adventurous"?
Thanks

 

[Dan]

I have been to Banda & Forgotten Islands a few times. To see hammerheads there, it’s better in the fall (Sep-Nov) than in the spring (Mar-May).

 

[Cali_diver]

Hi
Can you tell me more about this?
If you are on Damai 2 in Banda/Forgotten Islands,
will the crew make an effort to find the schools of hammerheads,
therefore find the right corner, look for current,
or will they lead a very conservative dive, which will be safe but will miss the action (I know it is a great boat with great crew, don't get me wrong)?
I am a bit worried that comfort comes first on a boat of that type and other boats might be a bit more "adventurous"?
Thanks

I have been to banda 5 or 6 times with Damai and we have always looked for the Hammerheads. Sometimes we have had to swim a little too much (and I was a competitive swimmer) but it was always worth it. I will preface this with if you are on the boat with a bunch of holiday divers who don't like current you might have a different experience, but I can tell you that Damai prides themselves on making sure divers have the best experience so if you tell them that is what you want to do then they will do everything in their power to facilitate that for you as long as it is safe for you and the guides. For me Damai has always catered to the adventurous more than the comfortable so I hope you are not disappointed. I would just be up front with the crew/cd right away so they can be prepared. Best of luck!

 

[SC_14_sharkdiver]

I have been to banda 5 or 6 times with Damai and we have always looked for the Hammerheads. Sometimes we have had to swim a little too much (and I was a competitive swimmer) but it was always worth it. I will preface this with if you are on the boat with a bunch of holiday divers who don't like current you might have a different experience, but I can tell you that Damai prides themselves on making sure divers have the best experience so if you tell them that is what you want to do then they will do everything in their power to facilitate that for you as long as it is safe for you and the guides. For me Damai has always catered to the adventurous more than the comfortable so I hope you are not disappointed. I would just be up front with the crew/cd right away so they can be prepared. Best of luck!

Hi, thanks for the reply and information...
In the 5-6 trips you mentioned on Damai, did you see many good sized school of hammerheads and on how many trips? You said it was worth it, just trying to understand how good it was, since everyone has different criteria.
Thanks